A soap opera is a serialized drama which runs for 52 weeks of the year with continuous storylines dealing with domestic themes, personal or family relationships and a limited running characters. Soap operas or serials are open-ended ... Soap operas are one of the few genres where weddings, for instance, are not a happy ending but the beginning of a marriage that may be troubled or even doomed to failure.
A dramatic program usually presented daily, with continuing characters and multiple plots. The action, which deals with contemporary problems and their solutions, continues from episode to episode called soap opera because many of the original sponsors were soap manufacturers. Also called daytime drama, soap, and soaper.
Television soap operas are long-running serials concerned with everyday life. The serial is not to be confused with the series, in which the main characters and format remain the same from program to program but each episode is a self-contained plot. In a serial at least one storyline is carried over from one episode to the next. A series is advertised as having a specific number of episodes, but serials are potentially endless.
These definitions can be seen as a sort of introduction to the whole field of soap operas. In the following chapters I will deal with this topic in detail.
Table of Contents
- What is a soap?
- A historical overview
- What makes a soap a soap?
- British soaps
- Highroad
- Shortland Street
- Coronation Street
- EastEnders
- Home and Away
- The audience
- Fieldwork
- The profile of an soap opera viewer
- Women as viewers
- Soap operas and housewives
- Under Observation
Objectives and Key Themes
This work aims to provide a comprehensive overview of soap operas, exploring their history, characteristics, and cultural impact. It focuses particularly on British soap operas and their diverse forms, examining the relationship between soap operas and their audience, especially women and housewives.
- Definition and evolution of soap operas
- Production techniques and characteristics of soap operas
- The audience and their engagement with soap operas
- Variety of British soap operas and their cultural context
- The role of soap operas in reflecting social issues
Chapter Summaries
What is a soap?: This chapter introduces the concept of soap operas, presenting several definitions that highlight their key features: serialized dramas with continuous storylines, focusing on domestic themes and personal relationships, and featuring a limited number of recurring characters. It emphasizes the open-ended nature of soap operas and contrasts them with self-contained series. The different definitions provide a foundational understanding of the genre, setting the stage for a more detailed exploration in subsequent chapters.
A historical overview: This chapter traces the origins of the term "soap opera" back to the 1930s radio serials sponsored by soap manufacturers. It describes how these initially short, female-centric programs evolved into longer television programs, gaining international popularity and becoming a significant part of television programming across different countries and cultures. The chapter notes the significant role of sponsors in shaping the content and reach of soap operas. The evolution from radio to television is presented as a key turning point, impacting production values and length of programming.
What makes a soap a soap?: This chapter delves into the defining characteristics of soap operas, differentiating between daily and prime-time soaps based on broadcast times and production costs. It highlights the low production costs, small cast, limited sets, and distinctive narrative structure, emphasizing the use of hooks and cliffhangers to maintain audience engagement. The chapter also discusses the slow development of plotlines, the focus on dialogue over action, and the familiar settings and characters that create predictability and audience connection. The chapter contrasts series with serials, emphasizing soap opera's ongoing storylines.
British soaps: This chapter focuses on the diversity of British soap operas, categorizing them as local, regional, and international, based on their reach and production context. It provides brief introductions to several examples, highlighting the range of settings, themes, and target audiences. This section offers a snapshot of the British soap landscape, showcasing its rich variety and illustrating the geographical and cultural factors influencing the genre's development. The comparative analysis with German soaps further illuminates the unique features of the British soap opera tradition.
Keywords
Soap operas, television drama, serial drama, audience, housewives, British television, cultural impact, production techniques, narrative structure, social themes, character development, prime time soaps, daily soaps, regional soaps, international soaps.
Frequently Asked Questions: A Comprehensive Language Preview of Soap Operas
What is the overall focus of this document?
This document provides a comprehensive overview of soap operas, focusing on their history, characteristics, particularly within the British context, and their cultural impact. It examines the relationship between soap operas and their audience, specifically women and housewives.
What topics are covered in the table of contents?
The table of contents includes sections on defining soap operas, their historical overview, key characteristics, a focus on British soap operas (including examples like Coronation Street and EastEnders), audience analysis (especially women and housewives as viewers), and fieldwork related to viewer demographics.
What are the key objectives and themes explored?
The key objectives are to define and trace the evolution of soap operas, analyze their production techniques and characteristics, understand audience engagement, examine the variety of British soap operas and their cultural context, and explore how soap operas reflect social issues.
What is discussed in the chapter summarizing "What is a soap?"?
This chapter introduces the concept of soap operas, offering various definitions that highlight their key features: serialized dramas with continuous storylines focusing on domestic themes and personal relationships, featuring recurring characters. It contrasts soap operas with self-contained series.
What does the "A historical overview" chapter cover?
This chapter traces the origins of "soap opera" to 1930s radio serials sponsored by soap manufacturers. It details their evolution into longer television programs, their international popularity, and the significant role of sponsors in shaping their content and reach. The transition from radio to television is highlighted as a crucial turning point.
What are the defining characteristics of soap operas as described in the document?
The chapter "What makes a soap a soap?" delves into defining characteristics, differentiating between daily and prime-time soaps. It highlights low production costs, small casts, limited sets, the use of cliffhangers, slow plot development, focus on dialogue, and familiar settings and characters that create audience connection. Serials versus series are contrasted.
What is the focus of the "British soaps" chapter?
This chapter concentrates on the diversity of British soap operas, categorizing them as local, regional, and international, based on reach and production context. It provides examples and highlights the range of settings, themes, and target audiences, offering a comparative analysis with other soap opera traditions.
What keywords are associated with this document?
Keywords include: Soap operas, television drama, serial drama, audience, housewives, British television, cultural impact, production techniques, narrative structure, social themes, character development, prime-time soaps, daily soaps, regional soaps, and international soaps.
Who is the intended audience for this document?
The intended audience appears to be academic researchers or students studying media, television, or cultural studies. The structured and professional approach suggests a scholarly purpose, likely for analysis of themes within soap operas.
What is the overall purpose of this document?
The overarching purpose is to provide a structured and academically rigorous analysis of soap operas, particularly British soap operas, focusing on their historical development, defining characteristics, audience engagement, and cultural impact.
- Quote paper
- Andrea Rieger (Author), 1997, Soap Operas. What is a soap?, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/1616
